Combined quick-coupler and hollow core for an oil-refining pack



Jan. 22, 1957 A. R. WHITE COMBINED QUICK-COUPLER AND HOLLOW CORE FOR ANOIL-REFINING PACK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 22, 1953 IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEYS ALBERT R. WHITE T H WV@ Jan. 22, 1957 A. R. WHITE 2,778,502

COMBINED Qu1cx-coUPLER AND HoLLow CORE FOR AN OIL-REFINING PACK 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 22, 1953 Lal.. EL

1N VEN TOR.

ATTOQNEYS COMBINED QUICK-COUPLER AND HOLLOW CORE FOR AN OIL-REFININGPACK Albert R. White, Glendale, Calif.

Application June 22, 1953, Serial No. 363,214

4 Claims. (Cl. 210-170) The present invention relates to improvements ina combined quick-coupler and hollowcore for an oil-refining pack. Itconsists of the combinations, constructions, and arrangement of parts,as hereinafter described and claimed.

It is a common practice to mount packs in housings so as to refine oilpassing therethrough; and, of course, these packs must be changed, orrenewed, from time tovtime in order to promote efficient refining of theoil.

An object of this invention is to provide a quick-coupler whereby anoil-refining pack maybe installed and coupled to an outlet fitting ofits housing, or removed therefrom, with rapidity and ease. Broadlyspeaking, the quick-coupler forming the subject matter of this inventionincludes an elongated coil spring, which constitutes a hollow core forthe pack. This spring is adapted to be telescoped over the outletfitting with a turning action, and has its coils dimensioned forclamping themselves upon the fitting upon releasing the spring so thatits coils will return to normal. The present invention differs incertain respects from my copending application on Quick- Couplers forSecuring Oil-Refining Elements in Housings, Ser. No. 363,215, filed June22, 1953. These differences will be set forth as the specificationproceeds.

After the pack has been used for the proper length of time, it may beremoved from the fitting by merely turning the pack slightly in adirection to cause the spring to relax its grip on the fitting, andthereupon the pack may be withdrawn. Both the installation and removalof the packs may be accomplished without requiring the use of wrenches.

Moreover, and as a further object, it is proposed to provide amodification of the pack, wherein a key member of rather simpleconstruction is employed, which will effectively anchor the pack to itshollow core, thereby preventing relative turning movement therebetween.Also, in a further modification, a resilient sleeve is provided forprecluding passage of oil between the adjacent coils of the core spring,which surround the outlet fitting. This arrangement assures passage ofthe oil through the refining material of the pack before it can flowinto the outlet.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds,and the novel features will be set forth in the claims hereuntoappended.

Drawings For a better understanding of -the invention, reference shouldbe had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this application,in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a housing having a plurality ofoil-refining packs installed therein and coupled to the outlet fittingsby my quick-coupler, portions being disclosed in section;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through the first embodimentof the quick-coupler and hollow core, and showing the associated packpartly in elevation;

Figure 3 is a view of the coil spring for the hollow core on a reducedscale;

Figure 4 is a side view of the outlet fitting taken by itself;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2, but illustrating a modificationin which a key member is provided for anchoring the pack to the hollowcore;

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the plane Vl--Vl ofFigure 5, and showingthe key member arranged in operative position uponthe coil spring of they hollow core;

Figure 7 is a view corresponding to the upper part of Figure 5, andincluding a further modification, wherein a resilient sleeve surroundsthe top portion of the coil spring of the core; and

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view taken through resilient sleeve. v

While I have shown only the preferred forms of my invention, it shouldbe understood that various changes, or modifications, may be made withinthe scope of the annexed claims without departing from the spiritthereof.

, Detailed description Referring now to the first embodiment, as shownin Figures l to 4, inclusive, there is provided a housing indicatedgenerally at A, which has head and base caps B and C, respectively,removably secured thereto. A plurality of oil-refining packs D aredisposed in this housing for the purpose of refining oil E as the latterpasses through the housing. p

It will be apparent that a partition 10 provides a compartment 11 withinthe head cap (see Figure l). Moreover, a plurality of outlet fittings Fhave their upper ends threaded at 12 so as to be screwed into thepartition. The bores 14 of the fittings communicate with the compartment11A for delivering refined oil to the latter. One of these fittings isprovided for each pack.

As shown in Figure 1, an outlet conduit 15 extends from the compartment11 through which oil maybe conveyed to a place where it is to be used.The incoming oil is delivered to the interior of the housing by aconduit 16, and this oil will fiow around all of the packs. beforegaining access to the outlet bores 14, the oil must pass through anoutery fabric casing 17, refining material 18, an inner fabric casing19, and thence into the interior bore 20 of a hollow core G. A drainoutlet 21 is arranged at the lower end of the housing.

In their structural details, the outlet fittings each define acylindrical upper portion 22 on its exterior surface and bores Ztl ofthe hollow cores, as clearly shown in Figure 2. v

Each hollow core is formed from a coil spring G, which includes an uppersection G1 having its coils disposed one against the other to normallyprevent passage of oil therebetween. Further, each spring has anintermediate section G2 in which the coils thereof are spaced apart toform a spiral-shaped passageway 24 through which oil will flow from therefining material to the interior of the spring. At the lower end ofeach spring there is formed a section G3 of closely-related coils, whichis closed by a plug 25.

When it is desired to attach a pack ting F, the upper end of the springis telescoped upwardly over the selected fitting. At the same time thespring and its pack are rotated slightly (clockwise in Figure 2) so asto cause the top coils to enlarge and permit them to slide over thecylindrical portion 22. Upon releasing the coil spring, the tendency ofthe coils to return to no1'- mal will cause them to clamp themselvesupon the fitting with considerable gripping power, thus retaining thepack coupled to the outlet fitting. Y

Patented Jan. 22, 1957 the l However, y

D to an outlet fitl atrasos It' will be apparent from this arrangementthat a pack may be removed from its fitting merely by rotating theassembled pack in a clockwise direction in Figure 2, thereby enlargingthe coils at the upper end of the section G1 to free their grip upon thefitting. Thereupon, the pack may be Withdrawn. Both the attachment ofthe pack to the fitting, or removal therefrom, may be accomplished withthe utmost ease, Without requiring the use of a wrench. In fact no toolis necessary to use.

With respect to the second embodiment of the invention, as shown inFigures 5 and 6, it differs from the form just set forth by the additionof a key member H, The latter is made up of a coil spring that surroundsthe spring G in snug relation so that both springs are anchoredtogether. As shown in Figure 5, the pitch of the convolutions of thecoils of the outer spring H are somewhat greater than that of the innerspring G, and extend in opposite directions to thereby cause the twosprings to bind together. Fingers 26 project from the ends of the springH into the interior of the pack D2 to thereby retain the latter fromturning relative to its core spring G. In all other respects, the secondembodiment is identical to the first; accordingly, like referencenumerals have been applied to corresponding parts.

This brings us to consideration of the third form of the invention(Figures 7 and 8), which differs from the second embodiment only by theaddition of a resilient sleeve J, such as neoprene rubber. This sleevesurrounds the upper part of the coil spring section G1, and its purposeis to prevent oil from entering the outlet bore 14 without first passingthrough the refining material 18 of the pack D3.

In all three embodiments, the inner casing 19 may be composed of aplurality of layers of cloth, which are wrapped around the spring G andheld thereto by strings 27, or other suitable fastening means. It willbe observed from both Figures 5 and 7 that the key member H is enclosedwithin this casing, The outer casing i7 likewise is made of fabric anddefines a closed bottom 28, which is disposed below the plug 25. Theupper end of the outer casing is secured by means of a string 29, or thelike, to the core spring G, and then is turned downwardly to provide acuff 36 surrounding the top of the pack. The refining material 18 of thepacks may be composed of alternate layers of Clo-th 3l and cotton 32, assuggested in Figure 2 of the drawings. Other kinds of oil refiningmaterial may be housed within the outer casing 17 and surround the innercasing 19 and the iiexible core G.

The one common point in all three forms of the device lies in 4theflexible central core G that is made of a coil spring and extendssubstantially throughout the entire length of the pack. The core Gperforms three functions, namely: one, it constitutes the centralliexible support for the pack; two, it constitutes the only outlet forthe refined oil to leave the pack; and three, the upper or outlet end ofthe core constitutes the only quick-coupling means for rapidly andreadily securing the oil refining pack to a hollow fitting and forremoving it therefrom. The other end of the flexible core receives theplug 25. The portion G3 of the core may be closely wound as shown inFigures 2, 3 and 5, or it may be loosely wound like the portion G2, inwhich event the plug 25 would engage with. fewer coils'.

The same type'of fiexible coil spring core is disclosed in the oilrefining pack of my copending application, alrea'dyf referred to. In thecopending case, however, a collar encloses the upper end of the coil andis keyed thereto. This collar has two sets of outwardly projectingintegral fingers: a lower set that are enclosed in the pack body forkeying the body to the core; and an upper set that are free of the packbody and are adapted to be manually gripped for quickly securing thecore to the outletfitting'and for removing it therefrom. In thepresentaca'se, the' two modified forms illustrate a key member H made ofa heavy coil spring' and having' out wardly turned ends that act asfingers 26 for keying the member to the pack D. There are no second setof fingers that project clear of the pack.

The outlet fittings F need not be screwed in place to the partition 10as illustrated. They may be wedged in place or otherwise secured to thepartition. The conicalshaped lower ends of the fittings F are for thepurpose of ease of telescoping the outlet ends of the flexible cores Gover the fittings. rThe cylindrical portion 22 of each fitting assuresthe firm gripping of the top portion of the hollow core G to thefitting. This gripping is sufhcient to support the pack when it' dependsfrom the fitting as illustrated and when it fills up with foreign matterthat has been removed from the `oil as the oil passes through the packand is refined.

lt is possible to have the axes of the outlet fittings arrangedhorizontally rather than vertically, and then the elongated iiexiblepacks D would also be arranged horizontally. The closely wound coilportions G1 would grip the fittings F to prevent any leakage' of` oilbetween the coils and the fittings. The drawings illustrate thecontaminated oil flowing into the packs D from the outer surfacesthereof, and the refined oil entering the open sections G2 of the coresG and flowing out through the fittings F. The flow of oil may bereversed and the im pure oil enter the packs through the fittings andflexible cores. However, when the fiow of oil is as indicated in thedrawings, the oil pressure will tend to press the oil refining materialin the packs down upon the flexible cores rather than awayy from thecores.

I claim:

l. In combination: a hollow oil outlet fitting having a conical surface;an oil-refining pack having a centrally disposed coil spring that has anend extending at least to the top of the pack; the interior of the coilspring end being of a diameter to grip frictionally the conical surfacewhen the spring end is telescoped for quick coupling the spring end tothe fitting; the spring end being freed quickly from the fitting whenthe spring end is rotated slightly on the fitting in a direction forloosening the coils from the fitting; the spring end beingsimultaneously removed from the fitting while the coils are in aloosened condition.

2. In a combination: a stationary tubular fitting having a boreextending lengthwise therethrough for the passage of oil; the fittinghaving a relatively long tapered section on the exterior thereof; thetapered section being smooth and gradually increasing in diameter froman outer end of the fitting; an oil-refining pack of substantialthickness and material and having an elongated coil spring partiallyenclosed therein with the spring constituting a hollow, flexible corefor the pack through which oil will fiow; the spring having one endsection projecting through and beyond an end of the pack with the'interior bore defined by the spring being exposed; the tapered sectionof the fitting being exposed to facilitate the piloting and endwiseslipping of the spring end thereover; the bore' defined by the coilsinthe projecting end of the spring being less than the diameter at thelarger end of the tapered section; whereby the outermost coils will gripthe fitting when they reach a point on the taper of the fitting whichisl slightly larger than the bore defined by the spring interior, andholds at this point when the'outermost coils are firmly shoved ontothetapere'd section; thereby providinga quick-coupling betweenA the packandthe fitting; the pack being quickly uncoupled-whenthepackand springare turned in a direction tending' to unwind and expand those springcoils that gripthe fitting; the fitting having sufficient length toextend into the pack and coii spring when the latter is quick-coupled tothe fitting to prevent oil fiow around the fitting and into the pack;the spring coils adjacent to the end of the spring, contacting eachother while the spring coils that lie farther within the pack, beingspaced apart for thel passage of oil therethrough.

3. The combination as set forth in claim' 2","an'd in" which a keymember formed from coiled wire, is secured to the coil spring and iscontained within the pack; said key member having at least one outwardlyextending linger that projects into the pack for keying it to thespring.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 3; and in which a resilientsleeve telescopes over the spring end and extends from a point slightlybeyond the spring outer end, to a point adjacent to the key member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS408,487 Jewell Aug. 6, 1889 6 Tice Apr. 19, 1898 Bower Feb. 26, 1929Frolander et al Mar. 13, 1934 Wood Feb. 20, 1940 Russell et a1 Feb. 20,1945 Butler Oct. l2, 1948 White Nov. 16, 1948 Gee Mar. 15, 1949 Ebert etal Nov. 8, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Australia Apr. 15, 1937

